Tofu making machine

ABSTRACT

A material passage whose height decreases progressively towards the downstream side is formed and a hopper (1), a pulverizer (3), a centrifugal separator (4) and a soybean milk receiver (12) are disposed in that order in the downstream direction along the passage. Accordingly, tofu (soybean curd) can be made more readily and automatically. (2) Juice of pulverization prepared by crushing water-containing soybeans with a pulverizer (3) is put into a centrifugal separator (4) consisting of a cylindrical rotary basket (43) rotating on its axis so as to separate soybean milk and bean-curd refuse. To make the apparatus compact, the pulverizer (3) and the centrifugal separator (4) are disposed in a casing having the same space.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a tofu making machine, and more particularlyto an automated but simple tofu making machine suitable for home use.

BACKGROUND ART

The known tofu making machines include a tofu making machine disclosedin, for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 124092/1976. Thistofu making machine consists of a soybean milk squeezer 5 (FIG. 8) andan agitator 96 (FIG. 7) which are provided as entirely separate parts.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8 in more detail, there it will be seenthat the soybean milk squeezer is provided with a raw material storagehopper 1, and a water tank 2 adjacent to the hopper 1, and a pulverizer3, a centrifugal separator 4 and a soybean milk receiver 12 in thementioned order below the hopper 1 and water tank 2. An opening at thelower end of the hopper 1 and an upstream end portion of the pulverizer3, which is disposed below the hopper 1, are connected together by acommunication tube 10, and the communication tube 10 and water tank 2are communicated with each other by a water feed tube 6.

The agitator 96 consists of an agitator body 11 holding the soybean milkreceiver 12, and a cover 20. The agitator body 11 is provided with aheater 84 buried in the wall thereof, while the cover 20 has agitationblades 94, 94 adapted to be driven by an agitation motor 90 andprojecting downward therefrom.

In this tofu making machine, soybeans, raw materials, are inserted intothe hopper 1 with water placed in the water tank 2, and a driving switch(not shown) is closed. As a result, a motor 7 is started, so that thepulverizer 3 and centrifugal separator 4 begin to be rotated atpredetermined speeds. The soybeans supplied to the hopper 1 are therebysent with the water, which is injected from the water tank 2 into thecommunication tube 10, into the pulverizer 3, and these materials arecrushed by pulverization propellers 9 in the pulverizer 3 and sent tothe centrifugal separator 4, in which the pulverized materials areseparated into soybean milk and bean-curd refuse.

The soybean milk produced by and discharged from the centrifugalseparator 4 flows down from a soybean milk separating chamber 40 intothe soybean milk receiver 12 and is stored therein.

The soybean milk receiver 12 is then taken out from the soybean milksqueezer 5, and bittern is added to the soybean milk in this soybeanmilk receiver 12. The resultant soybean milk receiver 12 is transferredto the agitator 96, in which the agitation blades 94 are operated for apredetermined period of time as the soybean milk is heated by the heater84, the soybean milk being then left as it is to complete the tofumaking operation.

This tofu making machine, in which the hopper 1, pulverizer 3,centrifugal separator 4 and soybean milk receiver 12 are arrangedvertically, is advantageous in that the step of supplying soybeans tothe hopper 1 through the step of dropping soybean milk into the soybeanmilk receiver 12 can be automated.

However, this conventional tofu making machine is not capable ofsufficiently simplifying the tofu making operation.

The reasons why such an inconvenience occurs reside in the following. Inthis conventional tofu making machine, a series of steps of crushingwater-containing soybeans in the pulverizer 3, separating soybean milkfrom bean-curd refuse in the centrifugal separator 4, and storing theresultant soybean milk in the soybean milk receiver 12 are automated butthe transferring of the soybean milk receiver 12, which was taken outfrom the soybean milk squeezer 5, to the agitator 96, the adding ofbittern to the soybean milk, the starting and stopping of the agitatorand the energizing and deenergizing of the heater 84, which constitutethe greater part of a tofu making operation, have to be carried outmanually.

The prior art, when considered as a whole, neither teaches nor suggeststo one of ordinary skill in this art how the tofu-making operation couldbe automated, nor does it suggest how the tofu-making machine of theprior art could be miniaturized.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The novel machine is designed so that tofu is made automatically bymerely charging soybeans, raw materials, and water into a hopper, andpushing a button. A first timer ensures that the soybeans willthoroughly soak in the water before exiting the hopper. When the soakingperiod is over, a valve opens and the soaked soybeans exit the hopperthrough a downspout under the influence of gravity. Said soaked beansenter a pulverizer which begins operation at the end of the soakingperiod. The pulverizer is positioned within the open-topped cavity of abasket-shaped centrifugal separator for separating the pulverizedwater-containing soybeans into soybean milk and beancurd refuse. Soybeanmilk overflows the separator after the pulverized and separator haveoperated for a period of time, and said milk enters into the housing. Itis then drained from the housing into a soybean milk receiver orcontainer positioned therebelow. A valved bittern storage chamber ispositioned above the receiver and a valve under the control of a timeropens to admit a predetermined quantity of bittern into the milk. Anagitator for stirring the milk in the receiver and a heater for heatingsaid milk are also activated when the bittern valve is opened. Timingmeans are also employed to close the bittern valve, deactivate theagitator and heater, and reset the machine.

The primary object of this machine is to provide a simple but automatedtofu-making machine that is suitable for home use.

A more specific object is to provide a small tofu-making machine thatautomates every step of the process except the charging of soybeans intoa hopper and the pushing of a button to start the machine.

These and other important objects, advantages, and features of theinvention will become apparent as this description proceeds. Theinvention accordingly comprises the features of construction,combination of elements and arrangements of parts that will beexemplified in the construction set forth hereinafter and the scope ofthe invention will be indicated in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention,reference should be made to the following detailed description, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3--3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a needle valve;

FIG. 5 is a partially sectional view of a clutch mechanism mounted on anoutput shaft;

FIG. 6 is an electric circuit diagram;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational, broken away view of a prior art agitator;and

FIG. 8 a side elevational, broken away view of a prior art tofu-makingmachine.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the severalview of the drawings.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a hopper, 3a pulverizer, 4 a centrifugal separator, 12 a soybean milk receiver, 15a start switch, 32 a first grinder, 33 a second grinder, 35 a rotaryshaft, 43 a rotary basket, 46 a cylindrical shaft, 51 a discharge port,52 a bittern storage chamber, 70 a bittern supply valve, 84 a heater, 96an agitator, 97 a valve, 101 a first delay circuit, 110 a second delaycircuit, and 111 a timer.

More particularly, the present tofu-making machine includes a valve 97installed in a flow passage between hopper 1 and pulverizer 3, a bitternstorage chamber 52 positioned above a soybean milk receiver 12 andconnected at its discharge port 51 to the soybean milk receiver 12, abittern supply valve 70 adapted to open and close the discharge port 51,a first delay circuit 101 adapted to receive a first signal upon closingof start switch 15, by which the machine is started, and output a secondsignal for opening the valve 97 and signals for starting the pulverizer3 and centrifugal separator 4, a second delay circuit 110 adapted toreceive an output from the first delay circuit 101, and a timer 111adapted to receive a delayed output from the second delay circuit 110and output for a predetermined period of time a signal for opening thebittern supply valve 70, the agitator 96 and soybean milk heater 84being operated for a predetermined period of time when they receive atime-out signal from the timer 111 or an output from the second delaycircuit 110, the pulverizer 3 (FIG. 2) consisting of a mill composed oftwo vertically stacked rotary grinders 32, 33, a rotary shaft 35 (FIG.3) being fitted in the central portion of the pulverizer 3 so that therotary shaft 35 is joined to one rotary grinder alone in a rotationpreventing state, a cylindrical haft 46 downwardly extending from thelower surface of a rotary basket 43 constituting the centrifugalseparator 4, the rotary shaft 35 for the pulverizer 3 being inserted inthe cylindrical shaft 46, the pulverizer 3 being disposed within thecentrifugal separator 4, the rotary shaft 35 for the pulverizer 3 andthe cylindrical shaft 46 for the centrifugal separator 4 beingselectively connectable to a driving power source consisting of a motor,whereby these shafts 35, 46 are rotated independently of each other.

The operation of the above technical means will now be described on thebasis of a practical tofu making process.

First, soybeans and water, raw materials, are placed in the hopper 1,and the start switch 15 is closed.

When the start switch 15 is closed, a first signal is applied to thefirst delay circuit 101. These soybeans are left soaked in the water inthe hopper 1 until a delay signal has been outputted from the firstdelay circuit 101. While the soybeans are left in this manner, the waterinfiltrates thereinto, and the swelling of the soybeans progressesnaturally.

When the time set on the first delay circuit 101 has elapsed with thewater sufficiently infiltrating into the soybeans, a signal is outputtedfrom the first delay circuit 101, whereby the valve 97 inserted betweenthe pulverizer 3 and hopper 1 is opened with the pulverizer 3 started.Consequently, the water-containing soybeans in the hopper 1 are suppliedto the pulverizer 3 via the opened valve 97, and crushed therein.

Juice of pulverization of the soybeans crushed in the pulverizer 3 issent to the centrifugal separator 4, which is started by an outputsignal from the first delay circuit 101, and separated therein intobean-curd refuse and soybean milk, the soybean milk thus separatedflowing into the soybean milk receiver 12 provided on the downstreamside of the centrifugal separator 4.

The output from the first delay circuit 101 is applied to the seconddelay circuit 110. Accordingly, after a signal has been outputted fromthe first delay circuit 101, the crushing of the soybeans by thepulverizer 3 and the separation of the soybean milk by the centrifugalseparator 4 have been completely finished, and the soybean milk isdischarged to the soybean milk receiver 12, a signal is thereafteroutputted from the second delay circuit 110.

When a signal has been outputted from the second delay circuit 110, itis applied to a timer 111, from which a signal is outputted for apredetermined period of time. While this signal is outputted, thebittern supply valve 70 is kept opened.

When the bittern supply valve 70 has been opened, the discharge port 51of the bittern storage chamber 52 is allowed to communicate with thesoybean milk receiver 12, so that the bittern stored in the chamber 52is added to the soybean milk in the soybean milk receiver 12. When thequantity of the bittern added to the soybean milk has reached apredetermined level, the bittern supply valve 70 is closed again by atime-out signal from the timer 111.

The agitator 96 and heater 84 are adapted to receive a time-out signalfrom the timer 111, or a signal from the second delay circuit by whichthe timer 111 is started, and to be operated for a predetermined periodof time. Accordingly, the soybean milk is heated by the heater 84 for apredetermined period of time as it is stirred by the agitator 96,simultaneously with or after the completion of the bittern addingoperation, the machine as a whole being thereafter stopped.

Tofu is obtained after the agitated soybean milk has been allowed to agefor a predetermined period of time.

The present invention has the following special effects.

Since all of a series of steps from the step of impregnating rawsoybeans with water to the step of agitating the soybean milk whileheating the same can be carried out automatically, a tofu makingoperation can be carried out by merely setting soybeans and water in thehopper 1.

As shown in FIG. 2, the pulverizer 3 is housed in the rotary basket 43of the centrifugal separator 4 so that the pulverizer 3 and centrifugalseparator 4 are positioned in the same portion of the space in thecasing of the machine. Therefore, the tofu making machine can beminiaturized as compared with a conventional tofu making machine of thiskind which requires a larger inner space due to its separately arrangedpulverizer and centrifugal separator.

As shown in FIG. 2, a hopper 1 is removably set on the upper portion ofa soybean milk separating chamber 40, and a centrifugal separator 4 isprovided in the interior of the same chamber 40.

The centrifugal separator 4 consists of a small-mesh cylindrical rotarybasket 43, and a cylindrical shaft 46 extending downward from thecentral portion of a bottom plate 48 of the rotary basket 43, and afirst gear 49 mounted on the lower end portion of the cylindrical shaft46 is meshed with a second gear 72. The second gear 72 is connected toan output shaft of a motor 7 via a first electromagnetic clutch 71. Thefirst electromagnetic clutch 71 consists as shown in FIG. 5 of a magnet65 mounted fixedly on the output shaft 77 of the motor 7, an outerdriver 62 fitted fixedly around the outer circumferential surface of themagnet 65, an electromagnetic coil 66 provided in a recess in the magnet65, ring type friction plates 67, 67, a slide ring 68 opposed to themagnet 65 via these friction plates 67, 67, and a driven cylinder 64engaged with a projection 69 on the inner circumferential surface of theslide ring 68 and fixed to the second gear 72. When the electromagneticcoil 66 is excited, a magnetic force occurs, by which the slide ring 68is attracted toward the magnet 65, so that the friction plates 67, 67are pressed against one another. Consequently, the rotary torque of themotor 7 is transmitted to the magnet 65, outer driver 62, frictionplates 67, 67, driven cylinder 64 and second gear 72 in the mentionedorder.

Referring again to FIG. 2, the rotary basket 43 constituting thecentrifugal separator 4 is provided therein with a pulverizer 3, whichconsists of a first disc type rotary grinder 32, and a second rotarygrinder 33, which are vertically stacked. These first and second rotarygrinders 32, 33 are provided in their contact surfaces with radialgrooves 36, 37, which extend from the centers of these contact surfacesto the outer circumferences thereof, so as to conveniently pulverize thesoybeans and send out the pulverized soybeans to the outercircumferences of the same contact surfaces. The first rotary grinder 32is provided with a through hole 38 extending from the upper surfacethereof to the lower surface thereof, and this through hole 38 isopposed to an opening 14 at the lower end of the hopper 1 from the lowerside thereof.

A rotary shaft 35 is passed through the central portion of thepulverizer 3, and provided with a male screw 34 at the upper end portionthereof. The portion of the rotary shaft 35 which is on the lower sideof and adjacent to this externally threaded screw 34 is formedpolygonally in cross section over a predetermined length, and thispolygonal region 39 is fitted in the upper first grinder 32, whichconstitutes a part of the pulverizer 3, so as to prevent the grinder 32from being rotated.

The rotary shaft 35 is inserted loosely in a cylindrical support post 61which is fixed to the central portion of the lower surface of the lowersecond grinder 33, which constitutes the other part of the pulverizer 3,so as to extend downward. The cylindrical support post 61 is insertedloosely in the cylindrical shaft 46 for the centrifugal separator 4, andfixed at its lower end to a base 82 fastened to an outer case 81 of themachine 8. The lower end of the rotary shaft 35 inserted in thecylindrical support post 61 projects from the lower surface of the base82 on the outer case 81, and a third gear 50 is mounted firmly on thisprojecting portion of the rotary shaft 35. The third gear 50 is meshedwith a fourth gear 75 mounted on the output shaft of the motor 7 via asecond clutch 74 having the same construction as the firstelectromagnetic clutch 71.

The soybean milk separating chamber 40, in which the centrifugalseparator 4 and pulverizer 3 are housed, is provided at the lower endportion thereof with a discharge passage 45 opened above an upperopening of a soybean receiver 12, which is placed on an annular heater84 on the upper surface of a wall 85 standing up on the bottom surfaceof the outer case of the machine 8.

A driving vane 87 of a magnet stirrer is positioned in a central bore 86in the annular heater 84 and mounted on a rotary shaft 89 on which asecond pulley 88 is also mounted. The second pulley 88 is connected to afirst pulley 92 via a V-belt 91, and the first pulley 92 to the outputshaft 77 of the motor 7 via a third magnetic clutch 93.

Finally, a bittern storage chamber 52 filled with bittern is formedabove the soybean milk receiver 12, and provided in its upper wall 53with a through hole 54, in which a needle valve 21 is fitted so that theneedle valve 21 can be vertically moved. As shown in FIG. 11, avertically extending rib 55 projects radially inwardly from apredetermined portion of the inner circumferential surface of thethrough bore 54 made in the upper wall 53, and a lift cylinder 57 havinga groove 56 loosely engageable with the rib 55 and vertically extendingin the outer surface thereof is fitted in the through bore 54. This liftcylinder 57 is provided at the outer circumference of an upper endportion thereof with a circular flange 58, by which the falling of thelift cylinder 57 fitted in the through bore 54 is prevented. The liftcylinder 57 is further provided on the inner circumferential surfacethereof with a female thread 59, with which external threads 23 formedon an intermediate portion of a valve stem 22 of the needle valve 21 andused to regulate the degree of opening of the same valve is engaged.

A stopper 24 (FIG. 2) for controlling the quantity of an upward movementof the needle valve 21 is provided on the upper surface of the upperwall 53 of the bittern storage chamber 52. An electromagnet 63 ispositioned above the needle valve 21, and adapted to attract the needlevalve 21 upward when the needle valve 21 is to be opened.

The motor 7 and first electromagnetic clutch 71 are electricallyarranged as shown in the electric circuit of FIG. 13.

An output from a start switch 15 is applied to a first flip-flop (whichwill hereinafter be referred to as first FF) 16, and the motor 7 isadapted to be driven by an output from the first FF 16.

An output from the first FF 16 is applied to a first monovibrator (whichwill hereinafter be referred to as first MM) 18 through a firstdifferentiating circuit 17. An output from the first MM 18 is applied tothe base of a first transistor 25, which is adapted to drive a secondclutch 74, and also to a second monovibrator (which will hereinafter bereferred to as second MM) 27 through a second differentiating circuit 19and a first inversion circuit 26. An output from the second MM 27 isapplied to the base of a second transistor 28, which is adapted to turnon and off a first electromagnetic clutch 71, and a thirddifferentiating circuit 29, and an inverted output from the thirddifferentiating circuit 29 to a third monomultivibrator (which willhereinafter be referred to as third MM) 78, which is adapted to turn onand off the electromagnet 63, and a fourth monomultivibrator (which willhereinafter be referred to as fourth MM) 79, which is adapted to turn onand off the third electromagnetic clutch 93. An output from the fourthMM 79 is applied to a fourth differentiating circuit 80, and an invertedoutput from the fourth differentiating circuit 80 to a fifthmonomultivibrator (which will hereinafter be referred to as fifth MM)76, which is adapted to turn on and off a buzzer 83 for reporting thecompletion of an operation, and a reset input terminal 13 of the firstFF 16.

The practical use of the above embodiment of the tofu making machineaccording to the present invention will now be described.

The water-impregnated soybeans are prepared and they are placed in thehopper 1. When the start switch 15 is closed, the first FF 16 outputs afirst signal and the motor 7 starts rotating.

Concurrently with the starting of rotation of the motor 7, a rising partof an output from the first FF 16 is detected by the firstdifferentiating circuit 17, so that the first MM starts operating andoutputs a second signal for such a period of time that was set therein.Consequently, the first transistor 25 is turned on with the secondclutch 74 engaged for a predetermined period of time, to rotate therotary shaft 35, which is adapted to drive the pulverizer 3, via thefourth and third gears 75, 50, whereby the first rotary grinder 32,which is mounted firmly on the upper end portion of the rotary shaft 35,starts rotating for the mentioned predetermined period of time. Duringthe time of rotation of the first rotary grinder 32, thewater-containing soybeans supplied from the hopper 1 are fed from thethrough hole 38 in the first rotary grinder 32 onto the frictionalsurfaces of the first and second rotary grinders 32, 33, on which thesoybeans are pulverized. The juice (soybean milk and tofu refuse) thusproduced is discharged from the outer circumferential edge of thepulverizer into the centrifugal separator 4.

At around the time at which all the water-containing soybeans in thehopper 1 have been pulverized, the time set in the first MM 18 elapses.As a result, the level of an output from the first MM 18 returns to "L"to cause the second clutch 74 to be disengaged.

When the level of an output from the first MM 18 has fallen to "L", thissignal change is picked up by the second differentiating circuit 19 toturn on the second MM 27, which thereby engages the firstelectromagnetic clutch 71 for such a period of time that was set in thesecond MM 27.

Consequently, the rotation of the output shaft 77 of the motor 7 istransmitted to the cylindrical shaft 46, which supports the rotarybasket 43 constituting the centrifugal separator 4, via the second andfirst gears 72, 49 to cause the rotary basket 43 to be rotated. As aresult, the soybean milk is separated from the liquid mixture ofpulverized soybeans in the basket 43 and supplied from the bottom wallof the soybean milk separating chamber 40 to the soybean milk receiver12 through the discharge passage 45.

When the centrifugal separator 4 has been operated for such a period oftime that was set in the second MM 27, with all of the separated soybeanmilk discharged to the soybean milk receiver 12, the level of an outputsignal from the second MM changes from "H" to "L". Consequently, thefirst electromagnetic clutch 71 is disengaged and the centrifugalseparator 4 is stopped. The change of this output level is detected bythe third differentiating circuit 29 to turn on the third and fourth MM78, 79.

When the third MM 78 is turned on, the electromagnet 63 is excited tolift the needle valve 21, so that a clearance occurs between the lowerend of the needle valve 21 and the opening 51 at the lower end of thebittern storage chamber 52 to cause the bittern 44 held in the bitternstorage chamber 52 to fall into the soybean milk in the soybean receiver12. When the period of time set in the third MM 78 has elapsed, theelectromagnet 63 is deexcited, so that the needle valve 21 falls byweight to stop the supplying of the bittern into the soybean milk.

On the other hand, since an output from the fourth MM 79 which is turnedon simultaneously with the energization of the third MM 78 is alsoapplied to the third electromagnetic clutch 93, this clutch 93 isengaged and the first pulley 92 is rotated. The rotational force of thefirst pulley 92 is transmitted to the second pulley 88, which is adaptedto drive the magnet stirrer, via the V-belt 91 to cause the driving vane87 to be rotated. Consequently, the driven vane 95 placed with thesoybean milk in the soybean receiver 12 is rotated to start agitatingthe soybean milk. Owing to the energization of the fourth MM, theannular heater 84 is also turned on, so that the agitation of thesoybean milk is continued with the soybean milk 12 heated to around 70°C.

When the time set in the fourth MM 79 has then elapsed, so that anoutput of "L" is outputted therefrom, this output is detected by thefourth differentiating circuit 80, and the detected signal is applied tothe fifth MM 76 and reset input terminal 13 of the first FF 16.Consequently, the buzzer 83 informing the completion of an operation isoperated, and the first FF 16 is reset to cause the motor 7 to stop.Thus, the machine as a whole returns to an initial operationaloperation.

The soybean milk in the soybean milk receiver 12 is then transferred toa mold and aged for a predetermined period of time to complete the tofumaking operation.

This invention is clearly new and useful. Moreover, it was not obviousto those of ordinary skill in the art at the time it was made, in viewof the prior art when considered as a whole.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, and those madeapparent from the foregoing description, are efficiently attained andsince certain changes may be made in the above construction withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention, it is intended that allmatters contained in the foregoing description or shown in theaccompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended tocover all of the generic and specific features of the invention hereindescribed, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as amatter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Now that the invention has been described,

I claim:
 1. A tofu-making machine, comprising:a hopper into which ischarged a predetermined quantity of soybeans and water; said hopperbeing funnel-shaped and having a downspout; a pulverizer for pulverizingsoybeans, said pulverizer changing said soybeans into a juice includingsoybean milk and soybean refuse; said pulverizer positioned below saiddownspout; a flow passage disposed in communicating relation betweensaid downspout and said pulverizer; a first valve positioned in saidflow passage so that soybeans are gravity fed from said hopper into saidpulverizer only when said first valve is open; a switch means thatgenerates a first signal when said switch means is activated; a firsttime delay circuit in electrical communication with said switch meansand said first valve, said first time delay circuit being activated bysaid first signal and said first time delay circuit generating a secondsignal to open said first valve upon the elapse of a first predeterminedperiod of time that begins when said machine is activated, soybeanscharged into said hopper soaking in said water until said first valve isopened; said first time delay circuit further being in electricalcommunication with said pulverizer and said pulverizer being startedupon receipt of said second signal; a centrifugal separator having abasket-like configuration, said separator being rotatably mounted forrotation about a vertical axis; said pulverizer being positioned withinsaid centrifugal separator to save space; said first time delay circuitfurther being in electrical communication with said centrifugalseparator and said centrifugal separator being started upon receipt ofsaid second signal; said separator, when activated, separating saidsoybean milk and soybean refuse from one another; a housing that housessaid separator; said housing having a downspout; a soybean milk receiverpositioned below said housing in open communication with said housingdownspout so that soybean milk that overflows said separator and thattherefore enters said housing is directed into said soybean milkreceiver by said housing downspout under the influence of gravity; abittern storage chamber positioned above said soybean milk receiver,said storage chamber having a discharge spout disposed in opencommunication with said soybean milk receiver; a second valve disposedin said storage chamber discharge spout; a second time delay circuit inelectrical communication with said first time delay circuit; said secondtime delay circuit operative to measure a second predetermined period oftime and to generate a third signal upon elapse of said second period oftime, said pulverizer and said separator operating during said secondperiod of time; a timer in electrical communication with said secondtime delay circuit, said timer, when activated by said third signal,generating a fourth signal that opens said second valve for a thirdpredetermined period of time and said timer generating a fifth signalthat closes said second valve upon the elapse of said thirdpredetermined period of time so that a predetermined quantity of bitternis charged into the soybean milk in said soybean milk receiver; anagitator disposed in said soybean milk receiver for stirring saidsoybean milk; a heater disposed in heat transfer relation to saidsoybean milk receiver; said fourth signal activating said agitator andsaid heater for a fourth predetermined period of time and said timergenerating a sixth signal that terminates operation of said agitator andheater upon the elapse of said fourth period of time.
 2. A tofu-makingmachine, comprising:a hopper into which is charged a predeterminedquantity of soybeans and water; said hopper being funnel-shaped andhaving a downspout; a pulverizer for pulverizing soybeans, saidpulverizer changing said soybeans into a juice including soybean milkand soybean refuse; said pulverizer positioned below said downspout; aflow passage disposed in communicating relation between said downspoutand said pulverizer; a first valve positioned in said flow passage sothat soybeans are gravity fed from said hopper into said pulverizer onlywhen said first valve is open; a switch means that generates a firstsignal when said switch means is activated; a first time delay circuitin electrical communication with said switch means and said first valve,said first time delay circuit being activated by said first signal andsaid first time delay circuit generating a second signal to open saidfirst valve upon the elapse of a first predetermined period of time thatbegins when said machine is activated, soybeans charged into said hoppersoaking in said water until said first valve is opened; said first timedelay circuit further being in electrical communication with saidpulverizer and said pulverizer being started upon receipt of said secondsignal; a centrifugal separator having a basket-like configuration, saidseparator being rotatably mounted for rotation about a vertical axis;said pulverizer being positioned within said centrifugal separator tosave space; said first time delay circuit further being in electricalcommunication with said centrifugal separator and said centrifugalseparator being started upon receipt of said second signal; saidseparator, when activated, separating said soybean milk and soybeanrefuse from one another; a housing that houses said separator; saidhousing having a downspout; a soybean milk receiver positioned belowsaid housing in open communication with said housing downspout so thatsoybean milk that overflows said separator and that therefore enterssaid housing is directed into said soybean milk receiver by said housingdownspout under the influence of gravity; a bittern storage chamberpositioned above said soybean milk receiver, said storage chamber havinga discharge spout disposed in open communication with said soybean milkreceiver; a second valve disposed in said storage chamber dischargespout; a second time delay circuit in electrical communication with saidfirst time delay circuit; said second time delay circuit operative tomeasure a second predetermined period of time and to generate a thirdsignal upon elapse of said second period of time, said pulverizer andsaid separator operating during said second period of time; a timer inelectrical communication with said second time delay circuit, saidtimer, when activated by said third signal, generating a fourth signalthat opens said second valve for a third predetermined period of timeand said timer generating a fifth signal that closes said second valveupon the elapse of said third predetermined period of time so that apredetermined quantity of bittern is charged into the soybean milk insaid soybean milk receiver; an agitator disposed in said soybean milkreceiver for stirring said soybean milk; a heater disposed in heattransfer relation to said soybean milk receiver; said fourth signalactivating said agitator and said heater for a fourth predeterminedperiod of time and said second time delay circuit generating a sixthsignal that terminates operation of said agitator and heater upon theelapse of said fourth period of time.
 3. The machine of claim 1, whereinsaid pulverizer includes a pair of vertically stacked, rotatably mountedgrinders that are rotatably independently of one another.
 4. The machineof claim 2, wherein said pulverizer includes a pair of verticallystacked, rotatably mounted grinders that are rotatable independently ofone another.